Drinking too much alcohol can harm your health Learn the facts

So it’s your liver’s job to detoxify and remove alcohol from your blood. The liver breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that scars and inflames the liver. This chemical also interferes with the liver’s ability to break down and metabolize fats. This causes that fat to accumulate and may lead to fatty liver — an early stage of alcohol-related liver disease.

That means you have to go more often, which can leave you dehydrated. When you drink heavily for years, that extra workload and the toxic effects of alcohol can wear your kidneys down. Drinking too much and too quickly can lead to significant impairments in motor coordination, decision-making, impulse control, and other functions, increasing the risk of harm.

Can alcohol withdrawal cause death?

Cirrhosis usually takes decades to develop, and sometimes people are not aware of it until it’s too late. These powerful chemicals manage everything from your sex drive to how fast you https://ecosoberhouse.com/ digest food. To keep it all going smoothly, you need them in the right balance. For example, some studies suggest that moderate alcohol drinking can affect fertility for some women.

Or it might damage the nerves and tiny hairs in your inner ear that help you hear. However it happens, drinking means you need a sound to be louder so you can hear it. Drinking heavily for a long time has been linked to hearing loss. Normally, this organ makes insulin and other chemicals that help your intestines break down food. Along with toxins from alcohol, they can cause inflammation in the organ over time, which can lead to serious damage. After years, that means you won’t be able to make the insulin you need, which can lead to diabetes.

The short-term effects of alcohol

Slurred speech, a key sign of intoxication, happens because alcohol reduces communication between your brain and body. This makes speech and coordination — think reaction time and balance — more difficult. That’s one major reason why you should never drive after drinking. But more recent research suggests there’s really no “safe” amount of alcohol since even moderate drinking can negatively impact brain health. Many people assume the occasional beer or glass of wine at mealtimes or special occasions doesn’t pose much cause for concern.

Medications such as naltrexone can reduce cravings and reduce alcohol consumption. Talk to your doctor if you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol. If you or a loved one is misusing alcohol, speak with a healthcare provider first. They can work with you to help manage your withdrawal in a safe and effective manner. Of those who develop seizures, about 3 percent may have a more serious type of seizure called status epilepticus. This is medical emergency that can lead to disability or death.

Binge drinking and overdose

An alcohol binge can occur over hours or last up to several days. Similar strategies can and should be applied to reduce harm among people with AUD. Medications, as listed previously, can reduce cravings for alcohol. Vitamin supplements (e.g. thiamine, vitamins B12 and folate) can be helpful for those at high risk for developing alcohol-induced vitamin deficiencies.

• It also weakens the immune system, making people more vulnerable to infectious diseases, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.
• Chronic misuse can also lead to paranoia and hallucinations.
• Outpatient plans with check-ins can treat milder cases of withdrawal.
• Continue reading to learn more about alcohol poisoning, the symptoms to look out for, and when to seek emergency care.

Recent research makes it clear that any amount of drinking can be detrimental. Here’s why you may want to cut down on your consumption beyond Dry January. Every state in the U.S. has a legal limit (or a point at which it is legally unsafe to operate a motor vehicle) of 0.08%. It’s important to note that any amount of alcohol in your system can interfere with your ability to think and function without impairment. Your immune system works to keep you as healthy as possible by fighting off foreign invaders, such as viruses, bacteria, and toxins. To your body, alcohol is a toxin that interrupts your immune system’s ability to do its job, thereby compromising its function.

Continuing to drink despite clear signs of significant impairments can result in an alcohol overdose. While Daniel-MacDougall notes a healthy body may be able to break down and remove a limited amount of alcohol, many factors can impact how your https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/5-ways-alcohol-can-kill-you-end-stage-alcoholism-death/ body reacts when you drink. On top of that, drinking too much rapidly alters the gut microbiome with short- and long-term consequences. Generally, once your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is 0.40 percent or over, it’s dangerous territory.

They can assess your condition and advise you on whether you should complete your withdrawal in an inpatient or outpatient setting. This section answers some frequently asked questions about alcohol withdrawal. As a 2020 review states, many important steps exist in treating alcohol withdrawal.